Vuelta 2017: Mohoric solos to glory in stage 7, Froome still in red

On rolling to hilly roads the 7th stage of La Vuelta runs to a thrilling finale: steep cobbled climb into the old town of Cuenca before the riders plunge down to the line. Attacker Mohoric heads out on his own on the descent to solo to victory. Froome retains the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage 2017 Vuelta

1. Matej Mohoric (slo)
2. Pawel Poljanski (pol) + 0.16
3. José Joaquin Rojas (spa) s.t.
4. Thomas De Gendt (bel) s.t.
5. Alessandro De Marchi (ita) + 0.27
6. Floris De Tier (bel) s.t.
7. Jetse Bol (nld) + 0.29
8. Luis Ángel Mate (spa) + 1.21
9. Anthony Perez (fra) + 1.32
10. Arnaud Courteille (fra) s.t.

Main group at 8.38, Kelderman at 8.55

GC after the 7th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.11
3. Nicolas Roche (irl) + 0.13
4. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.27
5. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.36
6. David de la Cruz (spa) + 0.40
7. Jetse Bol (nld) + 0.46
8. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.49
9. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.50
10. Michael Woods (can) + 1.13

11. Simon Yates (gbr) + 1.26
12. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 1.40
13. Warren Barguil (fra) + 1.43
14. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.45
17. Wout Poels (nld) + 2.23
19. Rui Costa (por) + 2.52
20. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 2.55
21. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 2.59
24. Alberto Contador (spa) + 3.10
25. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 3.12

Race report
Once the flag is dropped the fight to get in the break starts raging. At km 14 a group of 14 riders forge a gap. Alessandro De Marchi, Richard Carapaz, Jose Joaquin Rojas, Pawel Poljanski, Alexis Gougeard, Floris De Tier, Matej Mohoric, Thomas De Gendt, Arnaud Courteille, Luis Angel Mate, Anthony Perez, Rafael Reis, Aldemar Reyes and Jetse Bol race to a comfortable lead. De Gendt is first to crest both intermediate climbs, Puerto La Montalbana and Alto de Santa Cruz de Moya.

The front group tackles the cobbled climb in Cuenca more than 9 minutes ahead of the peloton. Rojas and Mohoric are first to crest, while Poljanski and De Gendt are close behind and rejoin on the descent. Then Mohoric heads out on his own to widen the gap with a brilliant descent.

The former World Champion in the categorie junior and under-23 powers to his first UCI World Tour win, while Jetse Bol is a new face in the top-10. The Dutchman comes in seventh and now sits in seventh overall, 46 seconds down on Froome.

The Briton still leads the overall, 11 seconds ahead of Chaves and 13 seconds ahead of Roche.

Kelderman loses 17 seconds after a puncture in the finale.